1991: Brandon Koenning

Brandon Koenning (left) with his wife Rebecca (right) and their children Lillian, 7, Andrew, 5, (center) and Marjorie, 2.

Brandon Koenning, 36

• Current residence: Round Rock

• Occupation: Pharmacist in Austin for Seton family of hospitals

• Year won: 1991

• School: Shiner Junior High School

• Grade, age: Eighth, 13

• Winning word: Isomorphic

• Parents: Mary and Fred Koenning

Q:How did winning change your life? A: It changed my life for a little while. It was my first time getting to go somewhere else.

Q:How did winning affect the career you are in? A: It's hard to say, but communication and being able to spell properly is good in the profession that I'm in. Being a pharmacist, the drug names are really long, and the medical terminology can be complicated as well.

Q:What advice would you give to this year's spellers? A: I read a lot, and that helped me develop my talent as far as spelling goes. Back then, there were no real computers or any kind of device aides to help them.

Q:Are you still a good speller? A: I think so. Sometimes, I catch myself where I don't know a word, but I think I am. I feel like I was probably better back then.